Rotel RA1520 and RCD1520 - Introduction to hi-fi!

Dealer: Archimedia - Bu Ameem Building, Umm Hurair Road, off Al Maktoum Bridge, Dubai.

My choice ... Rotel RA-1520 and RCD-1520

My introduction to hi-fi ... Thanks to some intense online research and sieving through many reviews and forums, advice from Oldham-bro K, moral support from bbG :-) and excellent customer service from Archimedia Dubai's Shahnawaz.

Nice simple packaging ;-)

Rotel RA-1520 Stereo integrated amplifier
Output: 2 x 60 watts (20Hz-20kHz, <0.03%,>

Weight: 7.8 kg

Dimensions: 432 x 92 x 364 mm

Rotel RCD-1520 CD Player
Type: Slot loading

Digital-Analog converter: Wolfson High Performance

Weight: 8.5kg

Dimensions: 431 x 99 x 320 mm

Lets start with the amp ...

REAR:
Turntable (moving magnet) in (via 2 x RCA/phono)
3 x stereo line in (via 2 x RCA/phono)
2 x tape loop (via 2 pairs RCA/phono)
External remote in
FRONT:
Stereo 3.5mm minijack for easy connection of a portable media player

I love the simpleness of the facade, and the build quality ... nice and firmly damped ;-)

The remote controls are simple too!

Voila ... done! The first choice of music has to be ... Rachel Guerzo's Just Friends ;-) Bliss!

Jules verdict ... Hardly an expert opinion, as its my "first" hi-fi, but I can easily say that the quality of vocals and instruments played by the RCD-1520 is incredible, and the RA-1520 is simply effortless in its delivery through my B&W 683 - Bowers & Wilkins floorstander speakers.

I presently play back most CDs between 10-15 % of the volume knob ... anything more, and the neighbours would go mad! Don't let the amp's "only 60W" fool you, its very ... VERY conservatively rated!

Run in period of at least 1-2 months will be required for the set-up to warm up, so I will report again closer to Christmas ;-)

Overall ... I am a very VERY happy listener!

Subway Steak and Cheese - Yummy!

Steak and cheese full-sized sub from ... Subway Abu Dhabi :-)

I love the bread at Subway, sometimes I forget its a "fast food joint". Its that good.

On this occasion, I chose the parmesan-oregano bread, and had my usual "extra chilli's please!". I like it sauce-y, so I had both Sweet Onion and the Chipotle Southwest for a bit of "kick"!

Real Crisps - Hand cooked from the UK

This is ... REAL! Handcooked Sea Salt Potato Crisps ;-)

Its from ... Newport, Gwent in the UK

I had brought this back from the UK over a month ago, and one night ... decided to have a snack. Some of the best chips / crisps I have EVER had! Perfectly salted, lightly fried, full of flavour. Magnificent!

Dooyoo.co.uk excerpt ....

The packing is quite quirky and each flavour has, interestingly enough, a picture of a real person on the front. Their image is what the flavour is supposed to taste like. For instance, the sea salt I am reviewing has an elderly fisherman/sailor on the front. He quite reminds me of Uncle Albert in Only Fools and Horses. This is where the reference to the sea (salt) comes from.
The packaging of the outer and the actual crisps packets are quite unusual as they are not a glossy, shiny finish, they are more subtle - they are not brash looking, more refined I would say, in a satin finish. The actual crisps packet is identical to the outer (pictured above) so you will know what to look for.
Real state on the packet that, and I quote 'When it comes to crisps, we don't mess about. Oh no. We pick out the best potatoes and hand cook them, so the goodness stays put. No nonsense.'

Full English Breakfast - Jones of Abu Dhabi

Jones The Grocer

Location: Al Nahyan Camp area, off Muroor Road

Tel: +971 2 4438 762

Ahhh ... nothing like a full english for brunch :-)

Scrambled egg, beef sausage wrapped in beef bacon, sauteed mushrooms, and grilled tomato ... Good stuff! About 43 AED, or RM35.

Best cappucino in town ... but you already knew that!

MD saw the waitress walking by with a Strawberry tart ... We couldn't resist. It was really good, light and not overly sweet. 17 AED, or RM15.

Lebanese at Atayeb - Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi

Add: The Yas Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
• Located: 25 km from Abu Dhabi city centre
• Tel: +971 2 656 0760
• 

Mediterranean-Lebanese food is served at this rather posh restaurant, in Yas Hotel, next to the Yas Marina F1 circuit :-) This is ... Atayeb.

Starters were rather dissapointing, very blah ... Cost about 30 AED per dish.

My lamb mixed grill (130 AED or about RM 110) was a lot tastier, especially the lamb on a skewer, so tender! Its a LOT of lamb ... eat slowly :-)

You have a choice of sitting in air-conditioned comfort, or at the large verandah area facing the Formula One track!

More views from the verandah ... we chose to sit inside, as it was 37c by night here in the summer time, and VERY humid!

I like the view inside :-) the Yas Hotel!

Race Day is now 76 days away, and they were extensively renovating what is a brand new 1 year old hotel, even the Italian place, Amici was closed. Odd!


View from the pool-top terrace :-) This is the 8th floor.


Time to take my Canon G9 and myself home ... adieu Stanley Kubrick-ish Yas Hotel!

It seems the interior architecture was created by the team of -

jestico + whiles, london
richardson sadeki, new york
de8 architetti, bergamo, italy

Baked beans shoot-out - Heinz v Libbys

Hmmm, decided to give Libby's a go!

Libby's - Product of the UAE

Heinz - Made in UK

So ... which one comes up tops?

Threw together my usual minced pork, sliced mushroom, beaten egg stir-fried with baked beans ... and Libby's turned out to be rather bland :-(

Guess I will stick to Heinz's next time!

Subway Abu Dhabi - Chicken Teriyaki

My favourite sandwich at Subway? Has to be the Chicken Teriyaki with Parmesan-Oregano bread, toasted of course :-) 15 AED (RM13) of yumminess.

Toppings? Everything please, with extra pickled green-chilli! Mmmmh ....

Best burger in Abu Dhabi - Wagyu by Jones!

Best cappucino in Abu Dhabi ... Jones, near Al Nahyan Camp :-)

So good I had to take another shot ;-)

MD's sandwich looked good ;-)

But my RM 50 Wagyu Burger ... was incomparable ;-)

Served with some Olive Oil Chips, and what tasted like home made tomato sauce ...

Succulent, tasty, perfect grilled ... that's my Wagyu burger :-) Bliss!